Ilkka Heilä

(b. 1956, Finland)

Ilkka Heilä is from Turku, Finland and born in 1956. Heilä created 'B. Virtanen', the unfortunate "Donald Duck" of office clerks, for a comics competition in 1989. This was organized by Bullspress and Newspaper Uusi Suomi. Heilä's creation became second. Ilkka Heilä's interest in comics was awakened already in the age of 11 years. Heilä worked in a post-office for several years before starting to work as a professional comics artist. His work obviously helped in creating 'B. Virtanen', whose head is kicked in emotionally every day, either at work by his boss or at home by his wife or his hooligan son. 'B. Virtanen' is published in Finland by the publishing firm Arktinen Banaani. There is also a large merchandise line, which are sold by the firm Cupika Ky, like mugs and office equipment.